South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-07-22
CANNIBAL TRIBES.
An Explorers New, Discover.
les In the Heart or Africa.
A Region Where Cannibalisn Is Gem
mon Habit.

Last fall the Congo State sent Capt.
Van Gc.e, one of Slanlcy's favorite Off
GERS, IN the steamer Henry Reed to make
further explorations upon the Mobangi
River, the great northern sfflucnt of the
Congo, whose Importance Mr.. Grcnfeil
was the first to discover. Van Gcic did
not ascend the river quito as fur rs Grcn-
ieii. being prevented by rapids through
which Grcnfcll had been able to push
his steamer ut low water when the cur
rem was slower. He, however, took time
10 explore, while Grcnfclps journey was
nothing more than hurried rcconnois-
sancc. Van Gclc made some very in.
tcrcsting discoveries. lie found, fol-
instance, three little tributaries, up
which lac pushed his steamer Cor a total
distance OF 207 miles. 1t is only three
years since Stanley estimated that the
NJ 'bangi itself added only about 800
miles TO the nnv.gab!c waters of the Congo
basin. Now the problem is, whether
the Mobangi or the Kassri deserves dis
tincsion as the Congo's greatest tributary.
On the Nghiri afilucn. of the river and
also on the M,bangi, about 800 miles
from its mouth, Van Csc found the
most densely populated districts he had
seen In Africa. Tho left bank of
the great river was IA uninterrupt ed
succession Of villages for about seve nty
miles. Those who imagine that the
depths of Africa are an almost voiccless
solitude should read Van Gele's brief
account OF the animation and hustle he
witnessed all along this populous river.
The scene on the river in the morning.
he says, is one of extraordinary ami
nation. He often met as many rs 300
canoes swiftly ploughing through the
water. The canoes were chiefly filled
with women and children. The women
were leaving the villages to go to the
fields and begin the agricultural labor.
OF the day. Other parties in the canoes
were setting out for the fish nets. "a
gather in the finny harvest that had col
lecied since the previous day. The river
swarms with fish, the land yields rich
returns of all tropical produce, and
thousands of natives along the river do
not know what famine means. Tney
have, besides, food resources upon
which most of the world cannot count.
as these natives are among tho greatest
cannibals.
Quite number of men accompany the
women to the fields but not to take part
in tilling the soil. They let the women
monopolizc the rude iron hoes, while
the men stand around with weapons in
their hands to protect the toilers. With.
out protection there is always danger that
the women will be surprised and
dragged off by hostile tribes.
All these river tribes send expeditions
against one another for the sole purpose
OF procuring victims for their cannibal
fcasts- Capt Van G.lc says that all
the enemies they kill In battle are cater.
and that the same fate soon overtakcs
the prisoners they carry home with
them. Before the exploration of tho
Congo Valley the belief was widespread
that cannibalism had greatly decreased,
and that there were comparatively few
people who were sill addicted to tho
horrid practice. In all his travels. L.y.
ingstonc never saw Il cannibal tribe with
the possible exception of the Nauycma.
But the opening up of the Congo basin
has revealed the fact that the world
ncv-r knew before where cannibalism
was most prevalent. There are undoubt.
cdly hundreds of thousands of peoplc in
that region among whom cannibalism is
confirmed and most cherished habit.
Capt. Van Gclc says that nowhere in
Africa has he seen fisheries of equal OK
tent exc'p: at Stanley Falls. The
stakes marking the position of the nets
| cover many acres. All these tribes arc
tall and powerful, and in form they arc
splendid specimens ofphysical beauty -
New York Sun.